FABLED FIFTEEN

The Pacific War Saga of
Carrier Air Group 15

By Thomas McKelvey Cleaver

Casemate Publishing

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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I always enjoy reading Tom Cleaver’s latest kit build/review articles over on the Modelling Madness website.  Normally published on a weekly basis (each Thursday) Tom’s build/reviews include a comprehensive background of the campaign that the aircraft he is modelling participated in as well an insight into the pilot who flew the machine.  A great deal of the information that Tom includes in his articles comes from his first hand contact and discussions with the pilots involved so what Tom chronicles is indeed unique in that it is the story of the people involved by the people involved.

Given this I was very pleased when I was asked to review Tom’s new book Fabled Fifteen, the Pacific War Saga of Carrier Air Group 15.  As a “student” of the Pacific War (which simply means I read everything that I get my hands on to do with the Pacific War as well as travelling to the battle sites and diving in the Pacific Oceans clear, warm, blue waters).

I have read a great deal about Carrier Air Group 15, its deeds and its unsurpassed history and I have modelled many an F6F, TBF/M and SB2C.  I was particularly keen to read the firsthand accounts by those involved as is Tom’s style of writing and I was not disappointed at all, it was everything I hoped for and more.

For the uninitiated, Carrier Air Group 15 took part in some of the greatest naval battles in history, including the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea — also known also as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, both of which effectively resulted in the end of the Imperial Japanese Navy as an offensive force.

The book comprises a Foreword written by David P. McCampbell, the son of the Air Group’s Commander (who also served in the United States Navy and retired a Commander), a Preface by Tom Cleaver, and an Introduction by Barrett Tillman (an eminent author himself), and ten chapters in all:

• All Fighter Pilots Man Your Planes!   Chronicles Fighting Squadron 15 and Commander David McCampbell himself including the action on 24 October 1944 where he shot down nine enemy aircraft in a single mission.

• Creating the Navy’s Sunday Punch.   The development of the aircraft carrier, its aircraft - with emphasis on the F6F, the SB2C and the TBF/M (A synopsis of the IJA’s and IJN’s prime fighting aircraft is also included) and the way an Air Group was used tactically.

• Coming Aboard.   Details the backgrounds of the other members of Air Group 15 and their individual journeys in which they developed into key elements of the fighting force.  This chapter also deals with the formation of the Air Group proper before it sailed toward the forward area aboard the USS Essex.

• Off to War.  Air Group 15 comes aboard the Essex and joins up with Task Force 58.  The aircrew experiences in the Marcus and Wake Island build-up strikes.

• The Marianas turkey Shoot.   Details the experiences, strategy and tactics of both sides of the battle.

• Pacific High tide: June–September 1944.   Strikes on Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.

• Pacific Crescendo: September–October 1944.   The Palaus, the Philippines, Formosa and Okinawa.

• The Battles of Leyte Gulf: October 17–29, 1944.   The second battle of the Philippine Sea – The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of Surigo Strait, the sinking of the IJN’s Musashi, the rise of the Kamikaze, and the battle off Samar Island.

• I Fear they’ve Saved the Worst of All this For Last”: October 26–November 15, 1944.   The end in Philippines.

• And then.   What became of the key members of Air Group 15 post WWII.

The chapters are followed by a Glossary, a bibliography, and an Index.

The book is to be illustrated with some 48 photographs, and as I said before, I read everything I can get my hands on when it comes to the Pacific War and I was surprised that I had not seen some of these images before.

The book is to be published in hardback form by Casemate with a release date of 19 September and I understand that it will measure 6” x 9”, and comprise 264 pages but is available now in Kindle format.

A great read as far as I am concerned.  It both chronicles the battles that Air Group 15 fought and relates the human experiences of its participants.

Thanks to Tom Cleaver for the digital sample

Review Copyright © 2014 by Rodger kelly
This Page Created on 31 August, 2014
Last updated 31 August, 2014

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